Amonal

Amonal is an explosive made from a mixture of ammonium nitrate, TNT, and aluminum powder in a 67/22/11 ratio. It is also necessary to add that in case of using these explosives for the load of submarine arms (torpedoes, mines, etc.) the aluminum reinforces the explosive effect of this when reacting with the water.

Ammonium nitrate is the oxidant and aluminum is an explosion enhancer. As a side effect aluminum makes the explosive less sensitive to detonation. The use of relatively inexpensive components like ammonium nitrate and aluminum makes it used instead of pure TNT.

The mixture can be damaged if moisture is present, since the ammonium nitrate is highly hygroscopic. It burns when exposed to the air and detonates when confined.

Its detonation speed is 4400 m / s

History

From the beginning of 1916, the British used amonal for their mines during the First World War. The composition they used was 65% ammonium nitrate, 15% TNT, 17% pure aluminum and 3% carbon.

In Spain there is a patent registered in 1937 by the artillery colonel Antonio Blanco (1903-1990).

Basque terrorist organization ETA used in Spain in 1987, significant amounts of amonal in at least two fatal attacks:

This explosive continues to be used as an industrial explosive.

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